Ben Carson: It was OK for me to do research on aborted fetuses

[Brownshoe]

(08-17-2015, 06:32 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: That is a reasonable answer.


She only gave consent to a single embryo transfer.  Any additional embryo transfer would be forced upon her without giving consent again.


I think you mean the doctors should reduce the number of embryos they implant.  They can implant one embryo or multiple embryos.  The decision is individualized.  Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages.  Patients make informed decisions based upon the information and guidance of their doctors and their own consciences.  Those decisions involve the patients and the doctors.  Not you or me or anyone else in this thread.


That isn't possible with every technique.  IVF is very expensive and some couples may only be able to afford one chance to have a child.  They should be able to make informed decisions for themselves.  Not chose from a list of choices you approved.

These are just a few of the moral complexities couples have to face.  In addition, we do prenatal genetic testing such as a triple screen for birth defects.  The triple screen can yield false negative results so an amniocentesis can be performed to further assess any abnormal results.  If the amniocentesis confirms the abnormality, couples are faced with the decision to continue the pregnancy knowing the child has a defect which may not be compatible with life or may prevent a "normal" life or choose to terminate the pregnancy.  There are no right or wrong answers.  There are only the best answers they can make at that time for them based upon their values, morals, and beliefs.  Not mine.  Not yours.  Ultimately, my wife and I chose not to have the triple screen done because if it was abnormal there is a small chance the amniocentesis could terminate a pregnancy.  We decided the risk of the amniocentesis (termination of the pregnancy) was greater than the benefit of knowing if the triple screen results were truly abnormal.  If the results were abnormal we would then need to decide what to do with that information; terminate the pregnancy or make the best of a bad situation.  We decided we would make the best of the situation regardless.  That was the best decision for us.  It may not be the best decision for someone else. But, I don't believe I have the right to tell others what decisions they should make in similar circumstances.

If someone get's an IVF they should be informed on what could happen. If they make the decision to bring life into this world then they have to be responsible for it. If the embryo has abnormalities then they should know that's a risk of having an IVF. If the abnormality makes the unborn not compatible with life, or would make the unborn suffer then I would think it would be appropriate to abort it.